City News Blog

The latest happenings in your city government.

The Lakeland Public Library System offers two monthly book discussion groups, Books Sandwiched In and Discussions at the e. Books Sandwiched In (BSI) is a monthly book discussion group, which meets every first Tuesday in the Main Library (100 Lake Morton Drive) meeting room at 12:15 p.m. Discussions at the E (DATE) is a monthly book discussion group, which meets at the elibrary South Lakeland on the first Thursday of every month at 12:30 p.m.

Each month’s selected book can be purchased for $2.00 at the respective libraries during the preceding month while supplies last. Coffee/tea and books are underwritten by the Friends of the Library. Please feel free to bring a bag lunch.

To request a sign language interpreter at any library event or program, please contact Brenda J. Patterson at (863) 834-4276 or Brenda.Patterson@lakelandgov.net at least 7 business days prior to the event.

T. MIMS CORP - RED, WHITE & KABOOM INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 3RD

LAKELAND, FL (June 3, 2015) - The City of Lakeland is pleased to announce that the T.Mims Corp. Red, White & Kaboom Independence Celebration will take place with live music at Lake Mirror along the Frances Langford Promenade on Friday, July 3rd from 6:00 p.m. - 9 p.m. with a breathtaking fireworks display dazzling the crowd at 9 p.m.

A live concert featuring the energetic Clemons Road blending Country music with an island feel or vice versa, the band always starts a party as soon as the first note rings! Pulling their influences from Sublime to Alan Jackson, Dave Matthews to Jimmy Buffet, or Lynyrd Skynyrd to Zac Brown Band, Clemons Road will keep heads bobbing and feet moving. Clemons Road features an extremely talented and charismatic front man, grammy award winning music producer Cliff brown on lead vocals and guitar. He is backed by a formidable group of highly talented and seasoned professional band members that are ready to light up the stage! Their sound includes fiddle, banjo, piano, guitar, bass and drums that will keep the audience dancing and having a great time. Brown said, “We want to be a band that crosses cultures and breaks age barriers. We want to make people feel good and give them songs to use for the soundtrack of their lives. We can’t wait to play before the Lakeland crowd at Red, White & Kaboom.”

Tom Mims, President of T. Mims Corporation said, “We are very excited to sponsor Red, White & Kaboom again this year. It is an excellent opportunity for our community to come together in celebration of our great country and it is free to the public." Mims added, "We will be continuing our Chow for Now canned food drive to benefit Volunteers in Service to the Elderly so we want each spectator to bring at least one can of food for VISTE." There will be Chow for Now volunteers with grocery carts circulating through the park collecting canned goods.

Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) is a community-based, non-profit organization serving Lakeland, Bartow, Mulberry and Ft. Meade. Established in 1983, the primary goal of VISTE is to enable frail elderly persons to continue living independently and safely in their own home.

During Red, White & Kaboom there will be a variety of food trucks around Lake Mirror so bring a blanket, bring your appetite and enjoy the festivities in celebrating our great nation. The event will conclude with a dramatic display of fireworks over the lake. The evening is free to the public and everyone attending is encouraged to bring at least one food item to benefit Chow for Now. All City parking garages will be open for T.Mims Corp. Red, White & Kaboom.

HARRISON SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WILL PLAY MUSIC ON THE PROMENADE

LAKELAND, FL (May 7, 2015) - The Harrison School for the Arts Symphony Orchestra will perform on May 15th starting at 6 p.m. as part of the Music on the Promenade series at the Lake Mirror Francis Langford Promenade.

This performance will feature two winners from Harrison’s concerto competition. Violinist Dixie Ortiz will be performing the first movement of Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole and Michael Jean will be performing the first movement of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. A special piece that was commissioned to celebrate Harrison School for the Arts’ 25th anniversary will also be featured during the concert. Larry Clark, Vice President of Carl Fisher Music and the parent of two Harrison students, has worked with the orchestra students throughout the composition process.

In addition to the concertos and the commissioned work, the orchestra will be performing a variety of works by Hanson, Sousa, Tschaikovsky, Kister, Delibes, Brahms, Grieg and Stravinsky. They will also be playing a salute to the Armed Forces that will include patriotic standards such as America the Beautiful and Stars and Stripes Forever. During the orchestra’s intermission the Harrison Jazz Combo will perform with solo singers from the Musical Theater World Choir.

The music series takes place at the Lake Mirror amphitheater, (121 S Lake Ave, Lakeland). The event is FREE to the public and families are encouraged to attend. Food vendors will be on hand and the Garden Bistro will be open so bring a blanket and enjoy the lake setting with music under the stars.

Music on the Promenade is proudly sponsored by the City of Lakeland. Parking is available at the Lake Mirror Center's parking lot and in the Iowa Avenue parking garage. No glass bottles within the park please. For more information regarding the series, contact Kevin Cook at 863/834-6264.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE OUTDOOR SCULPTURE LOCATED ON THE LEMON STREET PROMENADE

LAKELAND, FL (March 27, 2015) - Join the City of Lakeland on Friday, April 3rd as we celebrate 10 new sculptures located along the Lemon Street Promenade in downtown Lakeland that are part of the 15th Annual Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition. Lakeland, Winter Haven and now Sebring are participating with the installation of new art to be enjoyed.

In Lakeland, the sculptures are displayed along Lemon Street and there will be a chance for art lovers to vote on their favorite outdoor sculpture for the coveted “People’s Choice” award from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. during the April 3rd First Friday event that will take place in downtown Lakeland. The winners of the “People’s Choice Award” will be announced at 8 p.m. The band Free Time will play at the corner of Kentucky Avenue and Lemon Street along Lemon Street as they set the mood with soothing jazz.

The artist, the name of their pieces of art and the materials used to make the sculptures are listed below.

Ray Katz, Pontiac, MI

Around the Gate, 2010

Hanna Jubran, Grimesland, NC

Summer & Spring

Bob Dorsey, Lakeland, FL

Self Portrait as Armadillo, 2014

Carl Billingsley, Ayden, NC

Connectarc, 2014

Adam Walls, Hope Mills, NC

Tree, 2014

Joni Younkins-Herzog, Sarasota, FL

Delilah, 2014

C.R. Gray, Key West, FL

Gran-ANT

James Westermann, Morrisville, VT

Trike, 2010

Roger Halligan, Chattanooga, TN

Yellow Tail, 2008

Jack Howard-Potter, New York, NY

Winged Glory

The sculptures are selected by a committee of comprised of community members and Polk Museum of Art staff for the Florida Outdoor Sculpture Competition. The sculptures are displayed for a year in downtown Lakeland, Winter Haven and Sebring. An independent judge selects the Best of Show, Second Place and Honorable Mention awards for the pieces of art. The winners along with the “People’s Choice” award will be announced at the April 3rdFirst Friday event. There will also be live music so come out and enjoy First Friday and vote for your favorite piece of art!